waterfordfreelibrary

October 19, 1903

from National Library of Ireland on The Commons

• 35 older comments, and then…
• National Library of Ireland on The Commons said:

  Absolutely in stitches here at Library Towers! Just noticed the boy/girl who's managed to squish his/her head in beside Andrew Carnegie's elbow - mad!

• aoifejohanna said:

  National Library of Ireland on The Commons the head on him!! Brilliant :)

• Paddy Waldron said:

  Great picture. In 1901, Mr. Andrew Carnegie offered `to subscribe £5,000 towards the erection of new public free library buildings in Waterford'. At a meeting on 15 Oct 1901, `Mr. Alexander Nelson, J.P., D.L., [c.1844-1921] subscribed £250' to a fund to increase the income of the Free Library (Irish Times 16 Oct 1901). The site for the new Library at Lady Lane, opened in 1905, was donated by Alexander Nelson; see www.buildingsofireland.ie/niah/search.jsp?type=record&... I wonder is Nelson one of the dignitaries in the photograph? Alexander was Mayor for 1900 (according to en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_rulers_of_Waterford ) but the photograph wasn't taken until 1903; the man with the chain of office looks younger than 69 years old and is probably James A. Power, Mayor for 1903-5.

• National Library of Ireland on The Commons said:

  Paddy Waldron Thanks Paddy! Besides this photo, that's a very useful reference list for Waterford Mayors in our Poole Collection - will help with dating, etc.

• philip ward said:

  Looks like their is a cutout in the foundation stone to place a time capsule as as is the usual custom,probably being held by a gentleman on the left. I wonder what they decided to place in it.Great photo and expressions.